i have a 01 giant boulder se and i was thinking about getting something different. the bike is in perfect shape but it needs some new tires and a good tune up. i also think the derailer is messed up becaus the chain will get really loose when you back peddle and sometimes when you are just coasting. so should i keep my bike or get a new one?

I just got a tune up and headshock rebuild (Cannondale F400) for $85. It made a world of difference in the bike. But then they sucked me back in. I saw a new Cannondale Rush 600 and could not turn down the opportunity to take it for a spin in the parking lot. After riding it I couldn't leave it behind. Now that bike is sitting in my kitchen and I'm having a hard time sleeping at night knowing that the bike is downstairs begging to be riden. If you just want a tune up, I suggest you only take enough cash with you to cover the tune up. Leave the debt card, credit cards and check books at home. Maybe try the tune up first and then make a decision. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Heres my opinion of a tune up. Its something you can do yourself much better. I work in a bike shop some. I think most shops charge around 40 bucks, they clean the chain, lube it, check the breaks and shifting, check the headset for smooth action, check the tires, check to see if anything is loose. Unless the bike has a serious problem it takes about 15 minutes.